Linking Affordable Senior Housing and Medical House Call Practices

Poor health, financial limitations or lack of accessible transportation can keep many residents of publicly subsidized housing from obtaining the medical services they need. A new IFAS publication, Doctor at Your Door: The Senior Housing Community's Guide to Medical House Call Programs, suggests medical house call programs could help residents address these challenges. House call programs bring physicians, nurse practitioners and/or physician assistants to housing communities on a regular basis to care for frail and disabled residents who have difficulty leaving their apartments. Practitioners provide primary medical care, chronic care management, health education and wellness services, and help coordinate care with other health specialists. Research has shown house calls patients and their families are very satisfied with their health care, and experience fewer hospital stays and trips to the emergency room.

The guide is intended to help senior housing communities understand the goals of house call programs and how they operate, the type of patients they serve and the potential benefits of partnering with these programs.

Contact Alisha Sanders about this project.

Publications & Resources:

• Download the House Calls Guide.